Selecting system



April 21, 1931. A BUYKO 1,801,657

SELECTING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 23 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V ENTOR A TTORNE YS.

Patented A r. 21, 1931 2 1,801,657

UNI STATES PATENT osmos- 311110, BERKELEY, CALHOBNIA SEWING SYSTEM Application filed January 28, 1929. Serial No. 384,578.

This invention relatesgenerally to sysanode 27 and control elements or grids 28 tems for effecting selective operation or conand 29. As is customary in suchrelays, these trol of apparatus. It has particular app elements are enclosed in an evacuated vessel. cation tosystem's effecting selective control Control c1rcu1t 10 is connected to the m in response to the human voice, put of each relay. For example as shown 55 t is a general object of this invention to one side of c1rcu1t 10 is connected to one of devise a novel form of selecting systeny utithe control elements, say element 28, of each lizing marginally o erated electron relays. relay, and the other side of circuit 10 is It is a further 0 ject of thisinvention to connected to the cathodes 26. The finds in devise a'selecting system in which a plural- 2 of each relay are negatively base for ity of marginally operated relays are so mmarginalpperation, and for this purpose I terrelated as to cause operation of only one have indicated O-batteries 41, 42 and 43. relay in response to controlling energy of a G-batteries 41, 42 and 43 are of such values certain magnitude. thatnormally the plate current of each relay It is a further objectof this invention to is reduced to substantially zero when no 66 devise a novel system and method of interpotential difference is impressed across conlocking electron relays, whereby actuation trol c1rcu1t 10. However one of the relays, of one relay causes blocking of one or more say relay 11 has a C-battery of such a value other rela s of the system. that its plate current will assume an a re- It is a urther'obwct of this invention to ciable value for a certain potential discrdevise a novel system for effecting selective ence placed across. the control circuit 10, operation of printing apparatus .according while the C-batteries 42 and 43 are such that to spoken sounds. the plate currents of the corresponding reurther objects of the invention will a lays remain at zero value for such control- 5 pear from the followin description 1n ling potential. The C-battery for another 78 which I have set forth t e referred emrelay, say relay 12, is of such value that for bodiments of my invention. t is to be un a substantially greater controlling potential, derstood that the ap ended claims are to be the plate current of this rela will assume accorded a range 0? equivalents consistent a substantial finite value, w 'le the plate as with the state of the prior art. circuit of relay 13 is still substantiall zero. 80

Attention is directed to the accompanying For a still greater controlling potential, the

drawings in which: 7 plate circuit of relay 13 assumes a substan- 1g. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating one tial finite value together with plate circuits,

embodiment of my invention. of relays 11 and 12. 3.; Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are circuit diagrams illus- Without additional means other than that trating other embodiments. which has been described above, it is eviy system consists generally of a pluraldent that because of the marginal biasing of ity of relays esignated 11, 12and 13, which relays 11, 12 and 13, one, relay, say relay are connected to a common control circuit 11 will respond to a controlling otential 40 10. The relays serve to effect selective opof a certain magnitude to effect c osing of eration of an apparatus designated generally ma netic relay 32, while for a second con at 14, this apparatus bein connected to the tro ling 'potentialf both relays 11 and 12 relays thru a plurality 0 response circuits would be" o erated, and for a third potential 21, 22 and'23. The relays which I employ value, all t ree relays would be operated si- 45 are preferably of the electron relay type, and multaneously. For the purposes of my in- 5 or a purpose which will be presently exvvention it is desirable to effect operation of plai'ned, I prefer in this embodiment to utionly one relay in response to a controlling ize relays of this character having a pluralpotential of a certain value. As a means ity of control elements or grids. Thus each for effecting this result, I rovide a con- 60 relay is shown as consisting of a cathode 26, nection between the output 0 one relay and the input of a preceding relay. For example in series with the plate circuit of relay 12 I have shown a resistance 44.. That terminal of this resistance which is connected to B-battery 31 is connected to the controlling element 29 of relay 11 thru conductor 46, while the other terminal of resistance 44 is connected to cathode 26 of relay 11 thru conductor 47. Relay 13 is similarly rovided with a resistance 44 having its terminals connected across control element 29 and cathode 26 of relay 12. As will be presently explained this connection between the relays causes relay 11 to be blocked when relay 12 is operated.

In combination with the relay arrangement described above, I preferably provide a suitable source of electrical current variations formed according to spoken sounds. Thus I have shown a circuit 48 including a microphone 49 or some other such device which will serve to translate sound into cur rent variations. ircuit 48 is shown coupled to a suitable amplifier 50, which in turn has its output coupled to the control circuit 10 thru suitable integrating means 51. Means for securing a direct integrated current from current variations is well known in the art, and may consist of a current rectifier in conjunction with a reactive filter.

It is well known that diiferent sounds of the human voice, as for example sounds corresponding to the different vowels of the English language, have decidedlydifierent wave forms. I have discovered that when these wave forms are duplicated by electrical current variations in an electrical circuit, that the integrated direct current components of such current variations also have characteristic magnitudes, depending upon the character of sound setting up the current variations. Thus if difierent vowels such as a, o, and i are spoken into the microphone 49 of circuit 48, and the loudness or intensity of each sound is practically the same, direct integrated currents of different magnitudes will be impressed upon the control circuit 10, depending upon which vowel is being spoken.

The translating apparatus 14 may be any means which is capable of being selectively operated by the response ci cuits 21, 22 and 23. For example this apparatus may be a printer having solenoids or magnets for operating type bars, these solenoids or magnets being energized or controlled from the response circuits. In such case when any one response circuit is closed, a corresponding printed character is made by the apparatus 14.

In explaining the operation of the above system, it will be assumed that a certain vowel, say the vowel a is spoken into the microphone 49. It is also presumed that the electron relays 11, 12 and 13 are ad- 'tion of magnetic .magnetic relay 32 justed, by having relays of different characteristics or by providing C-batteries 41, 42 and 43 of different voltages, so as to respond respectively to potentials of magnitude values 1, 2 and 3 respectively. It is presumed that when different sounds are spoken into the microphone 49, as forexample the vowels a, o and i, the corresponding integrated potentials impressed upon the control circuit 10 will have magnitude values 1, 2 and 3 respectively. When a potential of magnitude 1 is impressed upon control circuit 10 by speaking the vowel a into the microphone, the grids 28 of all the relays are made more positive by a certain amount. The-biasing of relays 12 and 13 is such however that even with grids 28 of these relays made more positive in this manner, the plate currents of these relays will remain practically zero. Relay 11 however is adjusted so that when its grid 28 is made more positive by this amount, the plate current of this relay is made sufficient to cause operation of the corresponding magnetic relay 32, to close response circuit 21. Now if a potential of magnitude value 2 is impressed upon the control circuit 10,'as by speaking the vowel 0 into the microphone 49, the grids 28 of the relays are made more positive by a greater amount, and relay 12 is adjusted so that its plate circuit now increases to a value sufficient to cause operarelay 32. However the grid 28 of relay 13 is biased to such an extent that it is unaffected by such a controlling potential. When the plate circuit of relay 12 increases to such an extent as to cause operation of its magnetic relay 32, a substantial potential difference occurs across the resistance 44. The connection between this resistance and relay 11 is such that grid 29 of relay 11 is made more negative to cause the plate current of relay 11 to assume practically zero value in spite of the potential of grid 28. In. other words relay 11 is blocked by a controlling potential placed upon the grid 29. Thus upon operation of relay 12, relay 11 is blocked in such a manner as to release its corresponding and to open its response circuit 21. WVhen the potential of magnitude 3 is impressed upon control circuit 10, the grids 28 of the relays are again made more positive to a greater extent. The adjustment of relay 13 is such that this relay is now operated as its plate current increases to an extent sufiicient to cause operation of its corresponding magnetic relay 32. A potential diiference is likewise formed across the resistance 44 of this relay, and because of the connection between this relay and the grid 29 of relay 12, relay 12 is blocked to cause release of its corresponding magnetic relay 32.

Upon blocking of relay 12, its plate curof relay 12.

and prevent its actuation.

Another method of preventing actuation cluded of response circuit 21 during actuation of another relay 13 is to provide an additional relay 61 circuit of rela cascaded with relay 11. The output circuit magnetic re of this relay is connected to magnetic relay winding 74 32 and its cathode and grid 28 are connected relay 72, an across a resistance 62 inserted in the plate in the plate circuit of relay 11. Grid 28 is properly tromagneti biased so that its plate current is finite only connected in the when a plate current flows in relay 11. A For convenience second grid 29 of this relay is connected to plate circuits connect grid 29 of relay 12. Therefore relay 61'is tery 76. blocked upon actuation of relay 13, and connected to th thereby prevents actuation of response cirrelays 81, 82 an described with reference 0 explain the mode ement shown in that norma cuit 21 at this time.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a further modification in which simplified means 15 provided arran for interlocking the various electron relays. sume 30 T of these relays are connected to a common tla conductor 64, which is also connected to the trol cir high potential terminals of resistances 44. relay 71 b or a purpose to be presently explained, t10n of m biasing or C batteries 66 are shown con-. closing of nected in series with the grids 29 of relays. however electro 13. operated.

With the arrangement shownin Fig. 3, magnitude 2 i when a controlling potential of magnitude cult 10, the l is impressed upon circuit 10, relay 11 is and 72 operated to the exclusion of relays l2 and h w ver r dlfi'crcnti 12 and block this relay itself. When a potential fiv and of magnitude 3 is impressed upon circuit 10, dered i11 t e plate current of relay 13 is made of finite relationship of value and the potential dro across resistunderstood of c ances 44 is made greater. C- attery 66 of recomponent fields of win lay 12 is of such value that at,this time the magnetic relay 82 are potential on its grid 29 is suflicient to effect intensity and arranged 4 I have shown my invention in s or equlvalent ploy ordin inally biased an circuit 10.- An

the plate circuit 75 included in Another similar electroespouse circu gnitude 1 is im response circ n relays 72 and trolling p0 plate curre become finite. ally relate 13. When a potential of magnitude 2 is im- 11 11 1 pressed upon circuit 10,the plate circuits of fl lall both relays 11 and 12 become of finite value, lay W111 no and the potential drop across resistances 44 fields f Wmdin impresses a blocking negative potential upon made q grid 29 of rela 11, thus rendering this relay P P I I1111g th inoperative. t is to be noted that at this p r l nlng thei The winding 74 s time, to eife y equal, the ar s 74 and 75 0 his condition since th energized at thi cathodes of relays 12 and 13 are conductivel om gu ic connected together. The purpose of battery g Potentlal 0 66 is to so marginally bias grid 29 of relay across n r l 0 12, that the drop in potential across resistrent relay 82. WVh f magnitude 3 ircuit 10, a fini of the same as well as blocking of a further modifiwhich the differdevices are onnected. In this r three element 3, having their (1 connected to ectromagnetic which is iny 71, and plate ing 74 y 73. f the rcuit 10 and that relays 71, 72 and l te currents of these t this time 73 are not tential of ontrol cirh relays 71 74 and 75 d so that ponent fields are ature of this re he component an be readily by properly properly proelectron relays of relay 82 is ct operation of en a controlis impressed late curnd' 3. Elecual response circuits adapted to pose each other. At this time however the current flowing thru winding 7 4 of relay 83, is sufficient to effect operation of this relay.

It is apparent that my system is susce tible of many modifications and that t e principles described can be applied to more complex systems using a greater number of relays than herein disclosed.

I claim:

1. In a system of the character described, a plurality of electron relays, a plurality of circuits adapted to be selectively affected by said relays, means for controlling said relays, and means interrelating said relays whereby operation of one relay to afiect one of said circuits serves to block operation of another relay.

2. In a system of the character described, a plurality of electron relays, a plurality of circuits adapted to be selectively affected by the outputs of said relays, means for controlling said relays, and means interrelating said relays whereby operation of one relay to affect one of said circuits serves to block the input of another relay.

'3. In a system of the character described, a plurality of electron relays, a control circuit connected to said relays, a plurality of be selectively affected by operation of said relays, and means interconnecting said relays whereby only one of said relays is operated responsive to a potential of given magnitude impressed upon the control circuit.

4. In a system of the character described, three or more relays, a control circuit connected to said relays, a plurality of response circuits adapted to be selectively affected by operation of said relays, said relays being each operative responsive to a diflerent potential impressed upon the control circuit, and means responsive to operation of one of said relays to prevent operation of the other of said relays.

5. In a system of the character described, three or more relays, a control circuit for affecting said relays, said relays being marginally adjusted for operation responsive to different potentials upon the control circuit, means connecting said relays responsive to operation of a relay adjusted to respond to a given control potential, to cause blocking of all relays adjusted to respond to lower control potentials, and response means adapted to be selectively operatedby said relays.

6. In a system of the character described, a plurality of electron relays, a control circuit for afi'ecting operation of said relays, saidrelays being marginally adjusted for operation responsive to difierent potentials upon the control circuit, means connecting said relays responsive to operation of a relay adjusted to respond to a given control potentialto cause blocking of all relays adjusted to respond to lower control potentials, and response means adapted to be selectively operated b said relays.

7. In a system of t e character described, a plurality of electron relays, a control circuit for afiecting operatlon of said relays,

said relays being marginally adjusted operation responsive to different potentials upon the control circuit, means connecting a control element of each relay with the output of another relay responsive to operation of a relay adjusted to respond to a given control potential to cause blocking of all relays adjusted to respond to a lower control potential, and response means adapted to be-selectively operated by said relays.

8. In a system of the character described,

.a pair of electron relays each having a pair of control elements and output electrodes, a control circuit connected to a control element of each relay, said elements being differently biased for marginal operation, response means connected to the output electrodes of said relays and selectively operable by the same, and an electrical connection between the output of one relay and the other control element of the other relay.

9. In a system of the character described, an electrical control circuit, a microphone circuit, voice frequency integrating means connecting said microphone circuit to the control circuit, a translating circuit, and a plurality of marginal relays serving to selectively actuate said translating means responsive to different integrated energy values in the control circuit.

10. In a system of the character described, an electrical control circuit, a microphone circuit, voice frequency integrating means connecting said microphone circuit to the control circuit, a translating circuit, and a plurality of marginal relays serving to selectively actuate said translating means responsive to different integrated energy values in the control circuit, and means interconnecting said relays for causing operation of only one relay for any given energy value.

11. In a system of the character described, a plurality of electron relays, input and output circuits for each of said relays, means in the output circuit of each of said relays operative upon energization of its associated relay to block the input of another relay.

12. In a system of the character described, three or more electron relays, input and output circuits for each of said relays, means in the output circuit of each of said relays operative upon energization of its associated relay to block the operation of the other relays.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ANTON BUYKO, 

